A lucky coin which saved the life of a First World War soldier is set to be sold at auction.

The penny, which has been left severely dented as a result of the incident, deflected an enemy bullet away from the heart of Private John Tricket while serving in the conflict.

Instead of piercing his heart, the bullet ricocheted upwards, catching him in the ear in 1918, which led to his honourable discharge from the front line.

"Soldiers used to keep objects in their breast pockets in an attempt to protect themselves from enemy fire and explosions" (Image: Hansons Auctioneers/PA Wire)

The lucky penny was minted in 1889 and will go under the hammer at Hansons auction house in Derbyshire next week.

Adrian Stevenson, militaria expert at the firm, said: "It looks to me like a pistol bullet hit the penny at close range.

"Soldiers used to keep objects in their breast pockets in an attempt to protect themselves from enemy fire and explosions.

"I've come across many stories of random objects saving soldiers' lives but I've never seen anything like this before.

"It's likely John Trickett kept the penny there on purpose, and when the bullet hit the coin it ricocheted up through his nose and went out through the back of his ear, leaving him deaf but still alive.

"He was honourably discharged from the Northamptonshire Regiment on September 7 1918, shortly before the 1914-18 war ended."

"The penny is a poignant reminder of the fine line between life and death, particularly in wartime" (Image: Hansons Auctioneers/PA Wire)

The penny will form a collection of war-related items belonging to Pte Trickett , including his British War Victory medals.

The items are being auctioned off by Pte Trickett's granddaughter, Maureen Coulson, who is from from Duffield.

"Everyone in our family saw the penny and heard the story of how it saved my grandfather's life," said the 63-year-old.

"His two brothers, Horace and Billy, both died in the First World War.

"My granddad was born in 1899 and would have been around 19 years old when the incident happened.

"It damaged his left-hand side and left him deaf in his left ear, also affecting his balance.

"But for that penny, his children would not have been born and I wouldn't be here."